November Ballot Set: No School Bond, Lawmaker Suspension Measures

Lawmakers have been pushing to send two more measures to voters, but a school bond and a constitutional amendment allowing the Legislature to suspend lawmakers without pay have both stalled.

The school bond didn’t get any “no” votes as it moved through the California Legislature. Union, builder, school and business groups all supported it, but Gov. Jerry Brown did not. He didn’t want the state to add any more debt — especially since he was already negotiating a water bond.

Even a late push from supporters to cut the size of the school bond in half and make its focus more urban wasn’t enough to get the governor on board.

"It's dead," the governor's office said Tuesday morning.

"The governor has made it clear that he does not want a school bond on the same ballot as the water bond and rainy day fund. We do not expect the legislature to send the bill on him," school bond author Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, said in a statement.

The clock also ran out on a constitutional amendment authored by Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, after three of his caucus members in legal trouble were suspended with pay.

The state constitution doesn’t allow lawmakers to be suspended without pay. The Senate passed an amendment in May that would give the Legislature that option, but the Assembly has yet to act.

Steinberg hopes the Assembly will place it on the June 2016 ballot before the bill dies at the end of the month.

Please stay on topic and be as concise as possible. Leaving a comment means you agree to our Community Discussion Rules. We like civilized discourse. We don't like spam, lying, profanity, harassment or personal attacks.